Target-practice vending machine



July I27 192s.

F. v1 MILLS TARGET PRACTICE vENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. EL4, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 1 f z lmuiln." l

In vngimllllllllfl July 27 1926.

F. 1.. MILLS TARGET PRACTICE .VENDING MACHINE v Fild Deo. 14, 1925'Fu-.ff 'i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 9T? I l [72E/872%?? lv1,594,066 I F. L.MILLS A".TARGET PRACTICE VENDING yIIACHNE July 21,1926.`-

Enea Dec. i4 1925 ,afm

z/ezzz L' WMM' ,4 Sheets-Sheet '3v July-21,1926.

1,594,066 F. L. MILLS Y TARGET- PRACTICE VENDING CHINE Filed Dec, 14.19225 4 sheets-sheet 4 Y, i Patented July 27,1926. y

, w1.59am@ r*lf-1mTEDEff-MES, PATENTGFFCE-" FRED L. MILLS, or oni:PARK', ILLiN01s',SS1GORTO` mms NOVELTYGOMPANY F f 1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AconPoRATIoNoF ILLINOIS. f f

` 'TARGET-RhenenVENDING MACHINE..

Application filed December The primary object of the present invenL tionis to providela'inachine, for use inconnection'with the salefofVarticles of merchanf dise, such as pieces of chewing gum, ksticks of 5chocolate, cigarettes Vand the like, Withcoin-r using means fortarget-practice, thereby to render interesting the operation by inducingthewezercise of skill in the Way of endeavor to cause a propelled cointo hit one/of a" 1U plurality of prize-targets entitling vthe operator,YWhensuccessful in the endeavor, to receive a prize in addition to thearticle paid for by the used coin.Y y Referring to the r accompanyingdrawi5 Figure 1 is ya 'perspectivev view lof the machine; f i

Figure 2 is a broken section on an enlarged scale over Fig. 1,on line2%2, Fig. 11'; Figure 3 is a section on linef, Fig.

Figure e is a section on line 'e-e, Fig. 2;'

VFigure 5 ,`s a rear View of the machine,

with the casing-back removed;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. l5; Figure 7 is a vieW infrontelevation of the device provided Withvthe targetfforming pockets, and

Figure 8 elevation; f' .Figure 9 is a View like that presented in Fig.v8, but with parts removed vvto disclose details,"`

vFigure 'lO-is a vi'eW inside elevation of the device illustrated inFig. 7

vis Va View` of the same in Yrear 35 Figure 11 is a section on line11.11, F198; L

VFigure ll`L` is a perspective vievvv ofla pocket-forming detail; YFigure 12 is a plan 'sectional view on line Y12,'Figs. 7, 8 and 9;

Figure 14 is a section on line 14T-14,' Fig.

direction of the arrows,l

- 6, viewed in the 5G has the lower partof` its'sides expandedforwvardlyfto provide the upright section 1, relatively narrow from backlthe Wider base-B, Aivitha seating bed-plate b on'tlie'base, jvvhich lisprovided ivith a cover M or "ledge c fastened in place; and the sectionthem and adapt it to Figure 13 is a broken view in section on,

Figure 15 is afipartly broken lvien7 in section onthea'foresaidflinel4-11, Fig. 6, receiving drawer inplan.. which ispreferably formed flanges recessed to` front, and

14, was.V seai No. 75,346.

A also has a cover a fastened in place.

. rllhe back al of the casingl isp'referably a Wooden sheet, as is alsoan interior vback e for the 'section A, set to extend between its sidesand' V to the cover a, near the forward edges'` ofthe sides; the back'ebeing'preferably'covered by ak pane of: glass f, forming th'efinterven-Ving space g. In the expanded base a drawer D,"foij1ning'acoin-receptacle, is supported be operated through theV open face of the`base YB, which is covered rvby a "plate v secured in place bya suitablelock, indicated at 71,1 and thedraWer is shown to contain,

near one end, three relativelynarrowv and jshallo'vv coin-receivingcompartments, la, Z

and m though the number thereof may be one'or inore, leaving theremainder ofthe draiveris interior a single larger comparti ment for thecoin-receiving purpose.

[On one side of thecasing-sectionlA, near vitsv upper end, is fastened a-pair of plates secured together in spaced relationl to forni aVcoin-ii'osertionYslotfdevice16 (Fig. l), the rear `plate-,havingaprojection 17 4`on its upper 'edge for guiding a the discharge-end oftheslottocause the coin to be retained on itsfseatuntil driven therefromthroughan openingin that side ofthe, cas1ng-to which the slot leads.

Q) in its-preferred form offa forming plates to hang betiveen beforcibly turned on rear and' front limiting its path, tojdri'vea cointwo slotthe '.pivot, between stops 2O and 21 in coin 1 8 in insertingitinto the slotto its seat inthe bottoni Be- 'hindi the'coin-seat a driver19.i's provided,

. shown Y (Fig.l

finger pivoted at its upper eiidbetivecntheV v ahead of it `through thelspacebetweenthe back el and its glass cover purpose hereinafterdescribed.

it aside of the casing-sectionA, preferably as shown, oppositev thatcarrying the slot-device 16, is securedA bache a target`-device of thefollowingdescribed preferred construction:

' A plate 22 is rigidly secured to e, in spaced relation thereto, byVsuitable in their outer edges, one of theseV flanges, shown at 23,project-ing rear- Wardly fromlthe'outeredge lof the plate Yange, 2e,from .thev

and the other, shorter f, as and forthe to the face Vof the" facethereof; these flanges `being connected vat their loWerfends by a boss'presenting an inclined sui-face;

Tear its outer 'edge tively, as shown in l and 7'; and the edge of theplate are shown to termed three' letters C, each relating to a window toindicate a center to be attained by the target-practiie hereinafterdescribed. @n the baci; ot' the plate 22 provided, beneath each window land2, a guide-lug- 2T llig. l1). Against 'the under of the lowermost ofthese lugs bears the upper edge oiu the head olf an approximately@i-shaped plate 23 (Figs. 1l and lla), conned at its lower end betweenand seating in the rccesses of the plate-flanges'23 and 2e, where itcovers and is spaced "from the boss 25 to forni a coin-passage 29 (Fig.1l) between them; and the back of the plate 28 has formed thereon acentral, longitudinal nlike guide-ridge 30.

As'will be seen, the plate 28 forms with the baclr of the plate 2 2 aspecies of pocket 3l, into which a coin may enter at the space providedbetween the upper-end portion plate 2 3 and the back of the .plate ofthe pocket for discharge 22, and thence enter the at the outlet 29.

The plate 28 is covered by a similar but somewhat longer plate 28a, heldin place between the flanges 23 and 2Q, with its upper end bearingagainst the uppermost lug 27; this plate being spaced from theV plate 28to form a pocket 31FL like the pocket 31 and opening toA a coin-outlet29, and having its inlet, at 32a, between the back of the plate 22 andthe upper-end portion or head of the plate 28a.

A third plate 28C, of substantially the shape or' the plate 23b butlonger, covers the latter like it covers and is spaced from the plate23, to provide a coin-inlet at 32b to a pocket 31C opening to acoin-outlet'29b. The plate is fastened at its opposite ends by screws tothe back of the plate 22 (Fig. 8).

From the aforesaid coin-outlets 29 there extend similar chutes 33,preferably joined together, as shown, and leading, respective` ly, tothe shallow dijawer-compartments 7c, Z, and m, for conducting theretocoins when released from the pockets; and the larger drawencompartment Dreceives coins that miss the targets, when impelled as hereinafterdescribed, and drop, after being released, into that compartment, towhich they are guided by an inclined runway 34.

lt is desirable to retain the` coins entering the target-pockets, andthose missing the same, inview for inspection as to their eing genuine,as against, say, slugs being usedA lfor the target-practice, hereinafter-described.. To this eend a vstop is withdrawably provided at `eachwindow 26' and at the entrance to the drawer-compartment D where prongswill normally entend the glass-covered casing-,section A Vcommunicctestherewith. The stop-means for the window comprise a similar stop formingprongs Vprojiecting in suitably spaced relation from its inner edge,whereby with the bar pivot-ally supported its ends, as represented inFigs. 8, 9 and 10, on the back of the plate y into the windows l2), Vtowhich position, when withdrawn therel'roin, they are returned a spring3G bearing against'the bar. For working theV bar 3,5'to withdraw thestops 35, it is connected, at a lug 37 project at an angle from the bar(Fig. V5), byV a link 38 with a rod 39 journaled at its oppo- Ysite endscentrally lin the casing-cover c,

(where it carries a Knob 39aV or handle) and in a klug 39?) at thebottom of the section A. For arresting, for the inspection purpose,coins on their way to the drawer-compartment D', a stop-blade D (Fig.14) is pivoted near one end to the under face of the ledge c and isresiliently held, by a spring 40a, to close the coin-passage at the endof the runway 3l; and to withdraw this stop a linlr 4:0" connectsiteccentrically with the lower end of the rod 39,

l1 or a purpose hereinafter described, Va button l-l'is provided on thefaceV of the back c of the casingsection A adjacent each entrance to atarget-pocket at f, the button being preferably of rubber to render itresilient.

The machine is intended, more particularly, for use inthe store of amerchant who sells such articles as are to be delivered by him tocustomers operating the machine, which should therefore be placed andsecured, as on the counter, in position conveniently accessible to thecustomers. For the following explanation it may be sup- .posed that thearticle to be delivered by the merchant to the customers for the priceof the used coins, is chewinggum.

To operate the machine, a coin 13 repren senting the purchase price of apiece of the gum is inserted edgewise into the slot lo', whereupon theuser, with a linger and prei'- erably his thumb, strikes the driver 19with a forcible blow in the endeavor to cause the impelled coin to enterone or the other oi the pockets. In the event ol" failure in thatbehalf, the coin drops rthrmigh the space between the glass f and bacheupon the runway 34, and is arrested by the henger 40 to remain in viewthrough 'the glass f until released to the drawer; and the user isthereupon entitled to receive a piece of chewing1 gum, to be deliveredto him byV Should thel target, by enterthat success will prize ofgreater the merchant over the counter. impelled coin strike the ing theuppermost pocket, entitle the customer to a Vvaluethan that or av singlepiece'of *the` slender bar 35 having guin-inaybe two or more pieces ofthesame to be delivered bythemerchant; and entry of the coinintotli-evintermediate pocket by striking that target, entitles him to a prize ofstill greater value; and so on,

`throughout the number of target-pockets f provided, which may, or anyVdesired'number ,notingpi-izes of anyfdesired character-.and

however, be onlyy one of increasing value.

It isV to be observed, however, that there" can 'never be a miss, eachoperation? entitling the operator to receive the articleV -fof the valuerepresented by the 'coin,.

whether or not he fails to strike the target, the purpose of which isto'induce patronizingthe machine by'rend'ering itsoperation soattractive asto incite practice therewith to attain a degree er Sianthat vWiii ambie "the operator to hit a target with ,an .pelled coinmore oi' less frequently,`

The buttons. ,4,1 are provided to tend to guard accidental entry of theimpelled coin i into a prize-pocket,v by deflectingit tothe L pocket,

runway 34, thereby increasing the difficulty of the attainmentand-enhancing the `degree.

of skill required therefor.

Coins arrested vfor inspection at thewin dows and atthe end` of therunway may ybe released by turning therod 39 to withdraw the stopsv aand 40 from obstructing 1 their entry, VVof one or more ofthe pocketsretaininga coin at a window 26, into the proper shallow -e in vthe oneinstance,` from each drawer-compartment, and in thepther yinstance intothev drawer-compartment D;

It will be observed .that a coin released V from the windowV of theuppermost target, having enteredthe saine edgewise through the outlet29h, whence it runs through the lchute 33 leading from that outlet intothe Hto i limit my invention thereto exceptf as pointed out in theappendedV claims, by.

which it is my intention vto claim all the VYnovelty inherent in myinventionV as broadly as permissible by the state of the vart.'

' Irclaim: `v y j l.r A machine 0f the character described,

comprising a casing having its lower portion equipped with a pluralityof coin'receptaf cles, said casing being provided 'above saidreceptacles with a glassrfroiit and an inner' more than one, "dewallseparatedy ybya 'narrow l space from said glass;front,-an interveningmember between said v'wall and Glass-front resentind-a runway'atthelower portion yof said'spac'e which leads to one of said coinreceptacles, a plu?"V A ,Q -theother withinsaid spacegnear. the 'upper'Y ralityV ofj coin-pockets disposed one 'above portion of the' casingfand'disposed to per- -initthe coins-'which miss said pockets/to dropupon. saidrunway, chutes leading from said' coin-pockets to theothercoin receptacles, a slot extending through the side of the upperportion of' the casing opposite said coin-pockets and aordin'g a seatfor `an inserted coin, and a ldriver associated with said slot adaptedto impel a coin'horiz'on- 'tallyr through vthe upper portion of# said.space towards,Y said pockets.

2'. Alinachine of the' character described, comprising a casing having abase vcontainingfa plurality of coin receptaclesfand havi 5 inganupright section rising. from the rear portion of said base, vsaidupright section 'Y having 'a glass" front and beingi'provided lwithganlinner wall separated by a narrow vspace `from said glass front, anintervening '.n'iember within said space near one lateral wall Vof the"ca'sing, said intervenino' ineinber being equipped atits upper portionwith a plurality of coin-,pockets and presenting below saidcoinepoclrets a vertical edgesp'ortion and a lateral yrunway acrossthe'lower pockets tothe other 'coinr'eceptacles, a slot throughthelateral `wall of, said casing 'o'p-. posite said coin-pockets and anassociated y Y seat for an inserted coin, anda driver as pela coinacross the upper portion ofsaid space towards said coin-pockets. Y

A machine of the characterfdescribed,

vcomprising a casing having a base-portion portion of saidspace leadingto a coin frev, v,

ceptacle, chutes leading from said4 coin` -I icesociatedwith said seatadapted to Vim-. Y'

the inlet 32h, runs atwise along the fin;Al 30 of the plate 28L throughthe pocket to- .containing a plurality of coi-nv receptacles vplacedside by side, said casing having 'an 'upper section rising from`therear portion of the base and provided `with a glass `front and withaninner wallV separated by a nar-l row spacefroin said glass front, Vanintervening-plateinfsaid space adjacentv one side ofthe casing. aplurality of coin-'pockets in the rear ofthe' upper portionfof saidplate, said plate presenting a vertical edge and a 'runway across the'lower portion of said space leading to a lcoin receptacle, studs inlsaid space guarding the entrances -to 'said coin-pockets, said l'spacebeing otherwise unobstructed, a'coiirslot extending throughv the'casingvwall opposite said coin-pockets 'and a coin-seat associated`therewith, and a driver adjacent said coin-seat adapted to imrpel a coinacross the upper portion of'said `space towards saidf pockets.

y FRED VL'. MILLS.

Aiio

